2006 Georgia Code - 33-24-28.1

33-24-28.1(a) As used in this Code section, the
term:(1) 'Accident and
sickness insurance benefit plan, policy, or contract' means:(A) An individual accident and
sickness insurance policy or contract, as defined in Chapter 29 of
this title; or(B) Any
similar individual accident and sickness benefit plan, policy, or
contract.(2) 'Mental
disorder' shall have the same meaning as defined byThe Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(American Psychiatric Association) orThe
International Classification of Diseases(World Health Organization) as of January 1,
1981, or as the Commissioner may further define such term by rule
and regulation.(b) Every
insurer authorized to issue accident and sickness insurance benefit
plans, policies, or contracts shall be required to make available,
either as a part of or as an optional endorsement to all such
policies providing major medical insurance coverage which are
issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after July
1, 1984, coverage for the treatment of mental disorders, which
coverage shall be at least as extensive and provide at least the
same degree of coverage as that provided by the respective plan,
policy, or contract for the treatment of other types of physical
illnesses. Such an optional endorsement shall also provide that the
coverage required to be made available pursuant to this Code
section shall also cover the spouse and the dependents of the
insured if the insured́s
spouse and dependents are covered under such benefit plan, policy,
or contract. In no event shall such an insurer be required to cover
inpatient treatment for more than a maximum of 30 days per policy
year or outpatient treatment for more than a maximum of 48 visits
per policy year under individual policies.(c) The optional endorsement required to be made
available under subsection (b) of this Code section shall not
contain any exclusions, reductions, or other limitations as to
coverages, deductibles, or coinsurance provisions which apply to
the treatment of mental disorders unless such provisions apply
generally to other similar benefits provided or paid for under the
accident and sickness insurance benefit plan, policy, or
contract.(d) Nothing in this
Code section shall be construed to prohibit an insurer, nonprofit
corporation, health care plan, health maintenance organization, or
other person issuing any similar accident and sickness insurance
benefit plan, policy, or contract from issuing or continuing to
issue an accident and sickness insurance benefit plan, policy, or
contract which provides benefits greater than the minimum benefits
required to be made available under this Code section or from
issuing any such plans, policies, or contracts which provide
benefits which are generally more favorable to the insured than
those required to be made available under this Code section.(e) Nothing in this Code section
shall be construed to prohibit the inclusion of coverage for the
treatment of mental disorders that differs from the coverage
provided in the same insurance plan, policy, or contract for
physical illnesses if the policyholder does not purchase the
optional coverage made available pursuant to this Code
section.

Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. Georgia may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.